Autistic children ‘slide’ into new digs

(Community News)
BLUE skies and sunshine added to the joy of Niddrie students let loose on their playground for the first time last week. The new playground at Western Autistic School was opened last Wednesday.

Within a year, Rotary Club of Keilor East raised about $40,000 for new equipment. Assistant principal Mary Simson said: ”Autistic children need to be taught how to
play. This equipment is specially designed for them and has a great impact on their learning. The skills learnt there can be transformed to the wider community.”

Old trees and an old, treated-pine playground were deemed unsafe and removed by Moonee Valley Council, saving the club about $5000.

”Rob Hulls also helped us get a $5000 grant through the Department of Education, which saved us having to dip into club funds to finalise the account,” Rotarian Lloyd Lancaster said. ”It also means we can now move to the next section of the project, which is raising about $15,000 to pay for new sunshades.”